To the reviewer who mentioned Haley's writing - don't worry, that's yet to come. Hopefully I've already planted the seed for Haley's musical side to grow, but yes, music and songwriting will play a big part in her healing journey. Just remember that Haley's still finding her feet on that journey! To the other reviewer, and anyone else who is eager to see some progress on the Naley relationship front ... well, you'll probably hate me after this chapter! I have everything planned out, and I realize it's hard when you have to wait a week or more between each chapter, so I'm sorry. I'm not rushing these two and I hope I've shown you what's going on in their heads - where Nathan is at in terms of wanting a proper relationship with the right woman, and how insecure and fragile Haley is feeling after the loss of the people who loved her the most. The timeline of this story hasn't even hit 3 weeks, so I realize it's been slow (and it won't always be this slow!) but we will get there.

This one isn't my best, but it's super long and I had a lot to cover!

"What do you mean you have to go back to Tree Hill?"

Haley sighed, fiddling with her phone in front of her. It was Sunday evening; Peyton and Jake had gone home and Nathan, Haley and Lucas were at Nathan's house before Lucas' (and Brooke's) flight to New York. Nathan had thought that Haley had been ok the day before, when he'd gone in to check on her and wrap her ankle, but the woman that emerged an hour later from her room was withdrawn and quiet, although she had been trying hard to enjoy the company of his friends. She had, when questioned, insisted she was ok, and Nathan wondered if she was letting the doubts and negativity get to her, embarrassed over her antics on her night out. It turned out, though, that that wasn't that case.

"Vivian called. She and Drew are the executors of Mom's will and... well, they want to start clearing out the house to sell."

"So why do you have to be the one to do it?"

"Well... it's not just me. Viv said that Matthew is free to fly in on Friday so he can help me over the weekend... she didn't realize that I'm actually not staying in the house at the moment..."

Nathan frowned. He had no idea who these people were, but he safely assumed they were her many, useless, uncaring siblings. What he hadn't realized, though, was that only he and Lucas had known Haley's whereabouts for the past couple of weeks.

"Well, at least it's Matthew," Lucas pointed out. "It could be worse."

Haley seemed distracted and pensive, but this time, Lucas caught the frown on Nathan's face. "Matthew is probably Haley's least frustrating sibling," he explained. "Apart from Quinn, those two are probably the closest because they've both been living in California."

"Just tell them you can't do it." Nathan insisted, turning towards Haley.

She shook her head. "I can't do that, Nathan. It's a big job and it's got to start sometime. I'm sure they'll all pitch in eventually."

"Yeah, like they all pitched in to help with your parents' funeral arrangements?"

Haley shook her head again, this time dismissing Nathan's pointed comment.

"I'm serious, Haley. Where have they been for the last few months? The last few weeks? How is it possible that no one else knew that you weren't even in Tree Hill?"

Nathan's voice was loud and accusing, but he couldn't help it. Haley shrank back.

"Do they even know you've been diagnosed with depression? I mean you said so yourself that you're not ready to go back to Tree Hill. And to go back to start clearing your parents' house out? Next weekend? That's ridiculous, Haley."

Nathan could feel his blood starting to boil and he noticed her full name roll off his tongue instead of 'Hales' as he'd gotten used to calling her. Haley's lips were set in a stubborn line and she was still shaking her head.

"You just don't get it, Nathan."

"Yeah, Haley, I don't. I couldn't possibly imagine what it's like to have a family that doesn't give a shit about you unless they want something. I couldn't imagine what it's like to not have any family when you need them the most, to have family that's selfish and manipulative..."

Lucas coughed at Nathan's blatant sarcasm. "Present company excluded, I hope."

Nathan ignored him. "Haley, your priority is to get better. The only way you're going to be able to do that is if you look after yourself, protect yourself. Not throwing yourself back into a situation that's going to be difficult for you before you're ready for it."

"Nathan, it'll be fine," Haley insisted. "I'll just go back for the weekend, Matthew and I can start sorting out some stuff and then I'll come back. I'll just make a start. I owe it to Mom and Dad, at least."

"You owe no one nothing." Nathan declared. "Look, Hales... I'm trying really hard to help you, but..."

"No one asked you, Nathan!"

Haley's outburst was met with silence. Lucas was looking between his brother and his best friend, apprehensively. Nathan sucked in a slow breath.

"Look, I didn't mean it like..."

"No, no, Haley, you're right," Nathan interrupted her hurried defense. "I'm just providing the roof over your head until you feel strong enough to go back to Tree Hill. What you do is none of my business. It's not my place to interfere."

"You're not, it's just ..."

"It's just that I don't understand," he finished for her. "I got it."

He held up his hands to indicate that, as far as he was concerned, it was the end of the conversation. Looking towards his brother, he said, "Luke, I'll wait for you in the car?"

Lucas opened his mouth, but closed it again, before nodding. "Uh, sure."

Without another word, Nathan turned and left the room, leaving a shocked pair of best friends in his wake.

"Why do you think Nathan is so angry about you returning to Tree Hill?"

Haley twisted her fingers, nervously. The plush beige couch almost swallowed her and it was surprisingly softer than what she expected for a therapist's office. She took a sip of water and placed the glass neatly on the coffee table in front of her before replying.

"I don't know ... I guess ... he's worried that going back might be too much for me right now, might make the depression worse when I've just started to have a few good days."

The therapist, Olivia, nodded slowly. "What do you think?"

Haley sighed. She hated when Olivia asked her these questions. Haley was always used to knowing the answer; Olivia had a way of expecting an answer that Haley felt like she could never get right.

"I mean, he's right ... and I know everything he said is true. I said I didn't want to go back. Being away from all those memories, being here in Charlotte, it's been nice, it's been helpful. I'm so grateful to Nathan for everything he's done... But I have to go back at some point..."

Still twisting her fingers in front of her, Haley took a deep breath. "I think I can manage it, though. Just for a short time, and it'll be great to see Matthew... I mean I don't want to have to go back yet, but Mom and Dad wouldn't want the house just sitting empty like how I left it. And it'll be a big job to start sorting through everything and I'd like to be a part of it... And, honestly, I don't think most of my brothers and sisters would do a good job, even if they were there to help."

"Tell me about your siblings." Olivia changed track.

Haley sighed again - it was a big ask. "Andrew - Drew - is the oldest, he's 40 and we don't really know each other that well." She shrugged. "I mean he left home when I was so little. He's got a wife and three kids and lives in Florida. Vivian is next, she's always wanted to be like Mom, I think... She tries to be like Mom, but it just comes across so bossy, and Mom was never like that... she has seven kids as well, but I think it's a been a struggle. Her husband travels a lot and she's busy, so ..."

"And she's the one who called you?" Olivia asked.

Haley nodded. Taking another sip of water, she continued. "Jimmy Jr - we call him JJ - and he's a bit like Dad. Quiet, keeps to himself. He's a single Dad with two kids in Chicago. Then there's Quinn... Quinny is ... beautiful, creative, talented... she's a photographer. We've always been quite close, growing up I wanted to be just like her. Last I heard from her, she's thinking about leaving her husband, which is just crazy because she and David have the best marriage I know, so I don't know what's going on." Shaking her head, Haley realized that she hadn't heard what had happened with her favorite sister's marriage. She had spoken to Quinn just before she left Tree Hill, but the conversation was one-sided with Quinn ranting over how she felt like David didn't love her anymore and Haley numb, quiet.

"Then there's Matthew, he's definitely my favorite brother and we're pretty close as well ... I mean, until Mom and Dad died, then I haven't heard much from him ... he lives in California as well... I mean, when I used to live there... Then there's Taylor, she's the wild child. She's always been trouble, always going out of her way to shock people and it drove Mom and Dad crazy... and then there's me." She shrugged. "That's all of us."

Olivia nodded, her pen resting lightly against the pad of paper on her lap. "Why do you feel like you have to be responsible for your parents?"

"I don't know, I guess it's always been like that. Because I'm the youngest, I was the one still at home when they were all grown up and starting their own families... even after Dad died, when Mom told us how sick she was, we all took turns visiting her but it was me that moved back home to care for her. The others, they all had other people to look after - well, apart from Taylor, but she can't even look after herself, so..."

Haley trailed off. She'd never really thought about her family obligations, it hadn't seemed unfair, it had simply made sense. She'd wanted to be the one with her mother, to spend as much time as possible with her. Selfishly, she was glad she didn't have to share her for most of the limited time she had left.

"Have things always been difficult between you all?"

"No, not really ... I mean, with the age differences, it meant I wasn't that close to the older ones, but we'd always see each other at Thanksgiving, Christmas... It was always a madhouse when everyone was in town, but it was nice. Mom and Dad, they were the glue that kept us all together, but we always got along. It's just ... since the last holidays ... we've just all drifted apart. Quinn's called maybe twice since Mom died, but she just wanted to talk about her and David... I guess everyone has their own stuff to deal with, kids, husbands, wives and stuff...

"Do you think perhaps your siblings are struggling with your parents' deaths as well?" Olivia inquired.

Another shrug. "I don't know ... maybe... probably... Nathan said the same thing, but how am I supposed to know if they don't reach out to me?"

"Indeed. And how are they supposed to know that you've been struggling if you don't reach out to them?"

Haley didn't know what to say to that, but Olivia didn't seem to expect an answer this time as she continued. "Right, if you're going to Tree Hill this weekend, let's talk about what can make this trip easier for you."

Haley looked at her therapist with wet, pleading eyes. She could only think of one thing.

"I just don't want to leave without Nathan understanding. I want him to know I'll be ok."

An hour later, Haley found herself in another office. It was modern but simple, taking up half a floor in a high rise in downtown Charlotte.

"Can I help you?" The polished redhead in front of Haley raised an inquiring eyebrow with a voice that didn't sound like particularly like she wanted to help Haley at all.

"Um ... I'm here to see Nathan Scott?"

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Um... no, sorry... I was hoping he could see me really quick, it won't take long..."

The woman gave her smile. "I'm sorry," she said, not sounding sorry at all. "But unless you have an appointment, you can't see him."

"I know, I'm sorry, it's just ..." Haley felt red and flustered. She hadn't anticipated how unprepared she was coming to Nathan's office, or how beautiful his secretary would be. "My name's Haley," she tried again. "Haley James, I'm..."

"Oh my gosh! You're Haley?" Haley blinked at the rapid change in demeanor when a wide, excited smile overtook the other woman's face. "Oh hi! It's so nice to finally meet you. I'm Rachel." She held out a hand for Haley to shake, which she did limply, still confused by the sudden recognition.

"I'm so sorry about that," she was saying as she stood up and moved away from her desk. Haley could see the shapely round bump beneath Rachel's tight shift dress. "But as you can imagine, Nathan gets a lot of fans and groupies coming to the office wanting to meet him. Even after all this time, he's still popular as ever. Some days I don't know if I'm a secretary or security." She laughed at herself and started walking down the hallway, indicating for Haley to follow. With a quick glance around the reception area, Haley obeyed.

"I didn't realize you were so pretty!"

Haley blinked in bewilderment as Rachel kept talking. "I mean, I couldn't really see you very well in the photos and from Friday night, but Clay said..."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Oh, you know, with the lighting being quite dark and the quality wasn't that good. And I guess most people were trying to focus on Nathan so there weren't many photos of you..."

"What photos are you talking about?"

This time, Rachel was the one who looked surprised. "From Friday night. You guys doing karaoke."

"There are photos of that? In public?"

Rachel laughed at Haley's obvious mortification. "Well, obviously! Nathan Scott on stage doing karaoke? Clay was disappointed that it wasn't trending on Twitter."

She pulled out a rose gold iPhone and scrolled through something before handing it over to Haley. Sure enough, about half a dozen photos of Nathan had been posted on social media, walking into the bar and onstage with Haley. They looked like they had been cropped and zoomed to get as close as possible, rendering the quality quite fuzzy. By some miraculous twist of fate, Haley was very hard to recognize due to the dark lighting, but Nathan was clearly distinguishable in most.

"Oh God ..." Haley stared, transfixed. "Has Nathan seen these?"

Rachel nodded. "He was surprisingly calm about it, though. Clay's had a few calls from the gossip sites asking who the girl is, but Nathan told him to say it was a friend and not to comment further. He's not really making a big deal out if it ... actually, he seemed more relieved that it's too hard to make you out." Rachel's voice reflected the surprise over Nathan's priorities.

Haley passed the phone back to Rachel. It was unnerving that there were photos of her all over social media, but she was pretty sure that no one would be able to see her face clearly enough to identify her. Despite her own interest in Nathan's career, she couldn't help but be surprised that he was still in the public eye, and her surprise surprised her further. Regardless of Nathan's phenomenal basketball talents, he had the build of an athlete and good looks that garnered attention long before he was thrust into a public arena. Even before his celebrity status, Nathan captured most women's attention by simply looking the way he did.

Before she could say anything else, Rachel pushed open a door and ushered Haley inside. "Nathan's just finishing up a meeting in the conference room. Just wait here and he'll be back any minute."

With another blinding smile, the secretary turned and headed back to her desk, leaving a dazed Haley in the middle of Nathan's office. It was a large room, with windows overlooking downtown Charlotte. Another Bobcat's jersey hung, framed, on the wall, and Haley felt a wave of pride wash over her as she spotted Nathan's degree from the University of Maryland, in Business, hanging on the wall. She had never imagined, all those years ago in the tutoring center of Tree Hill High that Nathan would end up a college graduate. It wasn't that he wasn't academically capable, no - Haley knew that Nathan was a lot smarter than he gave himself credit for - but for a boy who had only received praise for his performance on a basketball court, it made Haley feel a strong warmth that he'd been able to graduate on top of his demanding sporting commitments.

Spotting a photo that looked like the Tree Hill Ravens of their senior year hanging on the wall behind his desk, Haley moved closer to inspect it. As she navigated the edge of the desk covered in files and papers, she was startled to see something very familiar. Taped to Nathan's computer screen was something she hadn't seen in a long time, over eight years, but was instantly recognizable: a small piece of white paper, framed with the purple edges of card, and Haley's looping handwriting.

Believing you will do well is half the battle.

Haley bit her lip as emotion overcame her. She always liked to give the students she tutored a small boost before a big exam, putting together a small tin of studying essentials. Nathan's was the first, and only time she had slipped in a handwritten note, knowing that Nathan's lack of self-confidence in his academic abilities was the biggest barrier between himself and achieving the grades that would keep him well above the standard for Raven's eligibility. Nathan had never mentioned it, and hearing Bevin quote it last week had been enough of a shock, but to see her note in such a prominent position on Nathan's desk touched the toughened part of her heart that had been starting to soften over the past few weeks. Tangible proof that she had really made a difference, to one person at least. One very important person.

Haley had begun to wonder, after the incident at her old school, if she was really cut out for teaching. If the time, effort and emotion she put into her lesson plans, helping her students, teaching every day, was worth it, if it gave her the same joy and pride that she experienced when tutoring in high school – the time when she had first considered making a career of helping people learn. After seeing her influence in Nathan's youth center, seeing her words being cherished and considered after such a long time, she was finally starting to believe that she wasn't such a failure after all.

A sudden noise started Haley and she jumped in shock as Nathan came through the door, his arms full of files. He looked as surprised to see her there as she was to see him, and she inconspicuously slid out from behind his desk.

"Haley?"

Nathan wasn't the sort of guy who hated Mondays over any other day of the week. In his short time in his office job, he'd simply gotten into the routine of going to work and doing what needed to be done. He had to admit, though, today had been tougher than most, and he hated starting what was looking like an extremely busy week on the wrong foot.

He'd felt, at first, stupid for lashing out at Haley the way he had the day before. Even Lucas' quiet inquiry in the car on the way to the airport had told Nathan that he had been harsher than he needed to be. Nathan knew it was just one of those things that could easily be sorted out with a bit of communication. The problem was, Nathan had always been stubborn. His communication skills were below standard, having grown up in a family where emotions were bottled up and listening skills were poor. He was used to disagreeing with someone and stewing and sulking, like a child. So he'd avoided his roommate for the remainder of the day, and had slipped off to work early in order to avoid their routine morning run.

It was ridiculous, and cowardly, and Nathan knew that he'd have to craft an apology as soon as he returned home day, but it hadn't been a great start to the week. The last thing he had expected was to find, after the way he had behaved, was Haley in his office.

"I'm so sorry, Nathan."

Haley's voice was soft and sweet, and Nathan frowned at both her unexpected presence and apology.

"Haley…"

"No, let me finish…" She held up her hands in protest, so Nathan silently dropped his files to his desk and leaned against the edge.

"You are a good man, Nathan Scott – one of the best I know. It's been your kindness and generosity and support that has helped me get out of bed and function each day… I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for everything you've said and done for me for the past two and a half weeks. Yesterday, I was angry and frustrated and I took it out on you. No, no one asked you to help me, Nathan. But you're helping me every day, doing it because you're a great person and an incredible friend.

"I know I said I wasn't ready to go back to Tree Hill, and I'm not, but … I don't know, for some reason it's important to me to be the one who sorts out the house, I want to do it. And anyway, I had to go back at some point, most of my stuff is still there …"

Haley's dark eyes were troubled and she was alternating between biting down on her bottom lip and sucking both lips in between her teeth.

"I want to apologize for making you feel like you were just putting a roof over my head. It's so much more than that, and I wouldn't even be able to think about going back to Tree Hill if I didn't know that I had a room in your house, and your support, waiting for me here. It means more than I'll ever be able to tell you, Nathan."

Relief washed over Nathan, and not simply because he didn't have to be the one to make the first move in amending their friendship … or whatever bond they had forged over the past few weeks.

"Hales … you don't have to apologize for anything, I've told you that before. I totally overreacted yesterday …" He sighed, trying to shake the mental image that he couldn't seem to get out of his head. "I keep seeing you, at the airport when you first arrived … I don't ever want to see you like that again, Hales. I know that, somehow, for some reason, you've been feeling better than you have before, but I don't know what the magic cure for depression is, I don't know what's right or wrong for you or how I can prevent things from getting worse again. I'm just ... I'm scared, Hales. I feel pretty helpless. But I know that you have to do whatever you need to do, and I promise I'll always be here to do whatever I can to help."

Nathan saw Haley's shoulders drop from her ears and settle at their designated location, and he felt the guilt of how much their rift had been weighing on her. "Oh, Nathan…"

Her dark eyes filled with tears and Nathan coughed, uncomfortably, respectful of Haley's desire to ignore them but unable to hide their effect on him. "Look, I tried to see if I could come with you this weekend, but it's going to be impossible. I have some really important meetings all day on Friday that I can't reschedule. And I'm going to be playing catch up in the office over the weekend, too. I'm sorry."

Haley shook her head, her dark blonde ponytail whipping the sides of her face. "No, no … it's ok … thank you…"

Wordlessly, he handed her a box of tissues, which she took, turning away for wipe her face and blow her nose. When she turned back, he raised his eyebrows at her. "We good?"

She nodded, vigorously. "We're good."

Nathan took the few short steps to reach her and enveloped her in a hug. Despite it being a rare occurrence, there was nothing uncomfortable about it – at least as far as Nathan was concerned. As usual, Haley's cheek rested against his collarbone as he towered over her. He had never been much of a hugger, but with Haley he had found it a good way to say the things he couldn't find words for.

Pulling back, Haley sniffled and said, "And Nathan, I'm so sorry about Friday night as well. I wasn't thinking clearly anyway, as you know, but it didn't occur to me that people would be taking photos of you…"

Nathan winced. He had to admit, when Rachel greeted him earlier in the morning with the pixelated images of his karaoke debut, his first thought was how Haley would react to them. He was beyond relieved to see that she was indecipherable in the photos, but knew that they would make her feel bad. He'd hoped she would be able to avoid them and cursed his secretary for the added burden on Haley's already weakened shoulders.

"Honestly, Hales, it's fine," he insisted. "You have nothing to worry about."

He could see in her eyes that she felt reassured, and her smile was genuine. "Thank you, Nathan."

She pulled him in for another quick hug before turning to leave. Outside his office door, he heard Clay greet her enthusiastically, and he suppressed a sigh. Clay knew full well who Nathan had been accompanying on stage the other night, and Nathan had copped the customary teasing and suggestive comments. He knew his business partner was amused over the former playboy basketball star living with a platonic female friend, and Nathan didn't want to add fuel to his fire. He watched as Haley turned back to the open doorway, smiled and waved at him. Nathan returned the gesture, sighing in relief as Clay's secretary cornered him with a message and allowing Haley to leave without further fanfare.

It was with relief and newfound energy when Nathan turned back to the mess on his desk. He had a busy week ahead with meetings, lining up potential and lucrative partnerships between sponsors and his clients, and plenty of scouting to be done. March Madness was beginning and Nathan had always taken a close interest in the NCAA tournament.

He'd been buried in paperwork for several hours before his stomach signaled that he was overdue for lunch. With a quick glance at his watch and his emails, he left his office, signaling to Rachel, who was on the phone that he was leaving for 10 minutes to get food. Deep in thought over the figures on the last contract he had been reading, he was startled for the second time that day when a friendly female voice greeted him.

"Hey, Nathan."

The tall woman looked familiar, with strawberry blonde hair that sat around her shoulders that Nathan instinctively knew had been much longer once upon a time. The wide smile showcased white teeth that was clearly a product of orthodontic work, and the blue eyes held a sparkle.

"Daytona?"

Nathan laughed incredulously as he was wrapped in his third hug for the day, albeit with a different woman. Daytona Green had been a childhood friend; her father worked with Nathan's uncle, Cooper, and his crew at the race track. The two had grown up together, spending long, hot summers of their childhood in Florida on the track which Daytona had been named after. As they had gotten older, Nathan's summers had become filled with basketball camps, and they hadn't seen each other since before high school.

"Wow, you look … look at you!" Nathan couldn't help his surprised eyes from roaming the unfamiliar form. His childhood friend was certainly no longer a child. "What are you doing here?"

Daytona laughed, happily. "I've just started working here … well, not here, here," she clarified with a smile, "Two floors up, I'm an attorney." She rattled off the long collection of surnames that Nathan recognized as the prestigious law firm in their building, which he and Clay often used for advice in their line of work.

"Wow, an attorney," Nathan mused. "Man, I always thought you'd end up racing cars."

Daytona laughed again and Nathan couldn't help but admire the carefree sound. "Well, we can't all make a living from our childhood dreams."

Nathan chuckled and nodded in understanding, noting the way Daytona's short skirt showed off long, shapely legs, and the undone buttons at the top of her shirt revealed creamy, pale skin. There was an air of confidence about her that Nathan couldn't help find attractive. The girl who used to run around race tracks in oversized race suits had obviously become a smart and sexy woman. A gear that had been lying dormant in the back of Nathan's brain started rotating slowly, as one side of his mouth lifted in a smirk.

"Clay called me up to look through a contract, I mentioned you and I go way back... I was hoping to run into you," she confessed.

The smirk became more pronounced. "I'm really glad you did. It's great to see you."

The ding of the elevator broke through their conversation. Datyona's eyebrows creased into a disappointed frown.

"I'm heading up, back to work," she explained, apologetically. "I've got the week from hell ahead of me… It was great to see you, Nathan. We should catch up some time, I don't really know many people here in Charlotte."

"Yeah," Nathan drawled. "My week is looking pretty crazy, too... How 'bout we catch up over dinner on Friday? That is, if your boyfriend doesn't mind."

It was blatant and purposeful, but Nathan didn't care. Once the intent had sprung up in his mind, he figured he may as well use his old, reliable tactics to get what he wanted. Judging by the smile on his old friend's face, his direct approach had worked.

"There is no boyfriend," Daytona announced, the sparkle in her bright eyes becoming more pronounced. "Dinner on Friday sounds lovely… there's this great Italian place just down from my apartment in town, I've been dying to check it out. We could meet there, if you like? 7pm?"

Nathan recognized the name as an established (and expensive) fine dining restaurant, and although he had never been the dating type until recently, he knew the spot was a perfect mix of intimate and lively and Daytona had picked well. With his best smirk still firmly in place, he nodded. "Sounds perfect. It's a date."

"It's a date," Daytona repeated in a tone that was both pleased and coy. She smiled again, and Nathan chanced a look at the curves of her ass as she stepped into the elevator. His eyes expertly slid to hers as she turned back to face him. "See you then."

The doors slid shut, and instead of waiting for the carriage to make its downward trip, Nathan pushed open the door to the stairwell, jogging lightly down the steps with a satisfied whistle.

Monday's weren't bad at all. Nathan Scott was back in the game.